Eat This Now: Oklahoma Joe’s, Kansas City

Eat This Now is a new feature that brings you great food from places around the world as chosen by Chubstr staff and readers. Tell us your favorite places to eat and why and we might feature you in an upcoming article. Click here to share your favorite place to eat.

Oklahoma Joe’s, Kansas City, KS

In Kansas City, barbecue is serious business. And if you’re looking for the BBQ praised by the locals and off the typical beaten path, then you’re looking for the BBQ joint that resides in an old gas station. That restaurant is Oklahoma Joe’s. And it really is located in an old Shamrock station at 47th Avenue and Mission road in Kansas City (they’ve also recently opened a location in Olathe, KS). You’ll also find a company-owned liquor store right next door making this a real one-stop shop for a great night of excellent dining and fun.

Born out of the world famous Kansas City Barbecue Society competition circuit, Oklahoma Joe’s first location opened in Stillwater, Oklahoma (home of the Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker Company) in 1996. It’s the Kansas City location in that old gas station though that puts Oklahoma Joe’s on our Eat This Now radar. It’s also on Zagat’s radar, the reknowned restaurant raters deemed Oklahoma Joe’s “Best BBQ in KC” in 2011. Just another award for the gang to add to their collection.

A Soft Shell Crab Po' Boy (photo courtesy Andrew Wilson)

But, award-winning history aside, it’s the menu at Oklahoma Joe’s that makes this the place of BBQ lover’s dreams. With everything from house specialty pulled pork, beef brisket, and ribs to specialty items like a soft shell crab Po’Boy (pictured), Oklahoma Joe’s menu has something for everyone.

While the menu offers a wide variety of classic BBQ fare, the restaurant is most famous for their Z-Man sandwich. The Z-Man consists of brisket topped with provolone cheese and two onion rings on a kaiser bun and is one menu item that Oklahoma Joe’s regulars say is not to be missed.

Indeed there isn’t much at Oklahoma Joe’s that regulars would recommend skipping. The restaurant, BBQ through and through, even puts a unique take on salads. At this gas station turned eatery you can order salads topped with pulled pork, brisket, or a hot boneless chicken breast on top.

And of course if everything on the menu looks too good to choose from, you can always ask the folks at Oklahoma Joe’s to recommend their favorites for you.

Want to learn more about the fine BBQ and specials at Oklahoma Joe’s? You can find them on Facebook  or follow them on Twitter @OklahomaJoesBBQ.